Device for removing frozen ice trays



May 29, 1934. 1-1. H. T'YROFF DEVICE FOR REMOVING FROZEN ICE TRAYS FiledFeb. 14, 1933 Patented May 29, 1934 DEVICE FOR REMOVING FROZEN ICE TRAYSHerbert H. Tyroff, San Antonio, Tex.

Application February 14, 1933, Serial No. 656,767

7 Claims.

This invention relates to tools'or implements for removing frozen icetrays from mechanical refrigerators and has for its object generally toimprove and simplify the constructionof such implements whereby toreduce the cost of manu facture and increase the efiiciency thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an implement of theclass described including a standard having a series of notches formedin -one side thereof which cooperate with an operating lever to form afulcrum for the latter when removing an ice tray, .said lever beingadjustable vertically of the standard whereby to adapt the tool forremoving trays of different -makes and heights.

A further object is to provide means for preventing accidentalseparation of the coacting units comprising the tool so that" they willalways be properly assembled for immediate use, and means wherebythetool may be conveniently suspended from the wire shelf 'of arefrigerator when the tool is not in use.

A further object is to offsetthe lower end of the standard so that'itwill assume a position,

' in front of and adjacent the bottom of the tray to be removed andthereby facilitate dislodgment of said tray from deposits of frost orice when the operating handle is depressed.

In the accompanying drawing forming a ,part -of this specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevationpartly in section, of a tray releasing toolconstructed in accordance with the present invention, showing theoperating lever in position beneath the reinforcing bead of an ice tray.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the tool or implement detached.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the standard.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure1.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure1.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews of the drawing.

The improved tool or implement forming the subject matter of the presentinvention comprises an operating lever 5 preferably arcuate in crosssection and having one end thereof terminating in a handle 6 and itsother end "provided with a terminal upwardly inclined lip '7 adapted toextend beneath the reinforcing bead 8 of an ice tray indicated at 9. Thefront connecting the side walls of the lever immediately beneath theslot vll is a transverse bearing pin 12. Associated with the lever 5 isa standard 13 preferably formed of sheet metal and U-shaped in crosssection, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, thereby providing parallelarms 14 having a series of downwardly and inwardly inclined notches .15formed therein and opening through the outer longitudinal edges of thearms, as shown. These notches 15 preferably extend substantially theentire height of the standard and are adapted to selectively receive thetransverse pin 12 of the operating lever whereby to form afulcrum onwhich the lever tilts in the act of dislodging a tray. The lower end ofthe standard 13 is preferably offset laterally at '16 and extendeddownwardly to form a foot 1'? adapted to rest on the ice or frost infront of and adjacent the bottom of the tray 9 whereby to facilitatedislodgment of said tray when depressing the lever. The metalconstituting the arms 14 is inclined downwardly in opposite directions,as indicated at 18 and connected by a transverse bar 19 forming a partof the foot. By making the lower end of the standard in this manner.acomparatively wide foot will be produced so as to form a firmfoundation for the standard and prevent rocking or tilting movementthereof when operating the tool. The offset xportion of the standard isprovided with a reinforcing rib 20 which gradually merges into thestandard at the bend of the U-shaped portion and also into the foot,thereby to reinforce and strengthen the same. In order to preventslippage of the standard on the frost or ice within the refrigerator,the foot thereof is provided with a pad 21 preferably formed of rubher,one end of the rubber constituting the pad being extended upwardly atthe rear of and in contact with the foot 17 and the other end of therubber being bent inwardly to form a yieldable locking lip 22 which fitswithin the hollow portion of the foot and bears against the adjacentside walls thereof. In case the pad 21 becomes worn or otherwise damagedfrom constant use it may be readily removed by deflecting the lip 22laterally until it clears the foot and a new pad may then be inserted.The metal at the upper ends of the arms 14 is preferably bent laterallyto form retaining ears or stops 23 which serve to prevent accidentalseparation of the two units comprising the tool so that they will alwaysbe properly assembled for immediate use. The end of the handle 6 of theoperating lever is also preferably provided with a rearwardly extendinghook 23 by means of which the tool may be conveniently suspended fromthe wire shelf of a refrigerator when the tool is not in use.

The upper tooth 24 formed by the adjacent notch 15 preferably terminatesshort of the upper end of the standard 13 and the outer edges of thearms 14 are preferably curved laterally at 25 to assist in guiding thelever to its proper position on the standard when assembling the tool,it being of course understood that after the lever is assembled on thestandard, the stop ears 22 will be pressed laterally to prevent separation of the units, as previously stated.

When the device is to be used for removing relatively shallow frozen icetrays the standard is positioned in front of the tray with the lip 7 ofthe operating lever extending beneath the reinforcing bead 8, afterwhich a downward pressure is exerted on the operating handle whichelevates the tray and permits its ready dislodgrnent from the ice orfrost should the tray adhere thereto. In order to remove trays ofgreater height than that shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the standardis positioned Within the refrigerator in the manner previously statedand the operating lever adjusted vertically on the standard until thelip '7 of the operating lever engages beneath the reinforcing bead ofthe ice tray to be removed and the pin 12 engages the correspondingnotch, after which the handle of the operating lever is depressed in themanner previously described.

It will of course be understood that the tools may be made in diiferentsizes and shapes and either cast or stamped from sheet metal withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

l. A device of the class described comprising a standard substantiallyU-shaped in cross sec tion and provided with a series of verticallydisposed notches, an operating lever fulcrumed on the standard andprovided with a transverse pin adapted to engage a selected notch in thestand ard, and stop ears formed on the standard to prevent accidentalseparation of said standard and lever.

2. A device of the class described comprising a standard substantiallyU-shaped in cross section to form spaced arms having notches formedtherein and opening through the outer edges of the arms, an operatinglever having a longitudinal slot formed therein adapted to receive thearms of the standard and provided with a transverse pin located belowthe slot and adapted to enter a selected notch, and stop ears extendinglaterally from the upper'end of the standard to prevent withdrawal ofthe lever from the standard.

3. A device of the class described compri ing a standard substantiallyU-shaped in cross section to form spaced arms the outer edges of whichare formed with notches, the lower ends 'of the arms being inclinedlaterally and downwardly to form a hollow foot, a yieldable pad engagingthe foot and having a portion thereof extending within the hollow foot,and anoperating lever slidably mounted for vertical movement on thestandard and provided with a transverse pin adapted to enter a selectednotch in the arms of said standard.

4. A device of the class described comprising a standard substantiallyU-shaped in cross section to form spaced parallel arms having notchesformed in the outer edges thereof, the walls of the arms at the lowerend of the standard being inclined laterally and downwardly to form ahollow foot, a transverse cross bar connecting the arms at said foot, apad of yieldable material surrounding the foot and having a resilientlip adapted to extend within the hollow foot at said cross bar, anoperating lever slidably mounted on the standard and provided with atransverse pin adapted to engage a selected notch in the arms, and meanson the upper end of the standard for preventing accidental separation ofthe lever and standard.

5. A device of the class described comprising a standard substantiallyU-shaped in cross section to form spaced parallel arms having a seriesof vertical notches formed therein, the lower end of the standard beingoifset laterally and the walls of the arms being inclined outwardly andlaterally at said oifset portion to form a hollow foot, there being areinforcing bead connecting the foot and standard at said offsetportion, a pad carried by the foot, and an operating lever having alongitudinal slot therein adapted to receive the standard and providedwith a transverse pin beneath the slot adapted to enter a selected notchin the arms of the standard.

6. A device of the class described comprising a standard substantiallyU-shaped in cross section to form spaced arms having a vertical series'of notches formed therein, the lower end of the standard being offsetlaterally to provide a hollow foot and the upper end of the standardbeing cut away to form a reduced portion, a pad carried by the foot, anoperating lever having a lip for engagement with an ice tray andprovided with a longitudinal slot adapted to receive the standard, atransverse pin carried by the lever and adapted to enter a selectednotch in the standard, and lateral stop ears formed on the upper end ofthe standard at said reduced portion to prevent removal of the operatinglever from the standard.

'7. A device of the class described comprising a standard having itslower end offset and formed with a laterally enlarged foot, one edge ofthe standard being provided with a series of vertically disposednotches, an operating lever having an intermediate slot for thereception of the standard and having one end thereof provided with a lipfor engagement with an ice tray, a transverse pin carried on the leverbenea'th the slot and adapted to enter a selected notch in the standard,and stops on the upper end of the standard to prevent accidental removalof the lever from the standard.

HERBERT H. TYROFF. [L. 5.]

